Harvesting-machine.



No. 736,921. PATENTED'AUG. 25, 1903. 'J. F. .AP'PLBBY. i

. HARVESTING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED HA R. 1B 1903.

10 MODEL.

2 SHEETSrBHEET-l.

' PATEN'I'ED AUG; 25, 1903-.

J. F. APPLEBY. HARVESTING MACHINE. Arruouron run AAA M A A ZTTMTW 2. I

MAM/MAMA Patented August 25, 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIc-E.

JOHN F. APPLEBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONALI'IARVES'IER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HARVESTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,921, dated August25, 1903.

Application filed March 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. APPLEBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in llarvesting-Machines, ofwhich the following is a complete specification.

This invention applies to harvesting-machines of the header type, inwhich the grain- Io receiving platform is adju'stably sustained in aposition in advance of the main supportingframe of the machine. Itsobject is to provide simple and ei'iicient means for effecting theadjustment of the said grain receiving platform.

Briefly stated, the invention consists in an improved construction ofthe sustaining and adjusting means for the grain-receiving plat form inmachines of this class. The means by which this method of sustaining andadjusting is accomplished is shown in the following drawings, in whichFigure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a harvester of theheader type, the

2 5 parts shown being sufficient to illustrate the application of myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the means by which the platform isleveled. Fig. l is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is avertical section 011 the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the rockingstandard which constitutes one of the three members forming theadjusting-lever. Fig. 6 is a side elevation,

partly in section, showing the same member with fragments of the armsand pull-rod c011- nected thereto. Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal verticalsection through the spring-yoke, the castin g to which it is pivotallysecured, and a portion of the tongue-pipe contiguous thereto, thepull-rod and spring being shown connected to the upper end of said yoke.Fig. 8 is an elevation of the free end of the lifting-lever. Fig. 9 is aplan view of same. Figs. 10 and 11 represent an elevation and a plan,respectively, of a modified form of the clevis connecting the verticalmember of the adj ustinglever with the pull-rod; and Fig. 12 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the two axes of the grain-receivingplatform about which it is caused to move in its adjustment. Fig. 13

1903. serial No. 148,356.

(No model.)

is a detail view showing the spring and plug therein by means of whichthe threaded bolt is secured to said spring.

In the drawings, A is the grain-wheel of a header, and B the usualtiller-wheel.

C is the main axle, and D the tongue-pipe.

F. represents the grain-receiving platform, and E the platiform-supporting bars, vertically adjustable and pivotally connectedto the said main axle C. By the rods F, which sustain thesupporting-bars E and the grain-receiving platform thereon, the forwardend of said platform is raised and lowered, and as it is usuallydesirable to have the canvas conveyer on this platform operate in aplane substan-. tiallyhorizontal it becomes necessary to level theplatform after adjusting it to any predetermined height. This levelingis effected by the means shown in Fig. 1 and in detail in Figs. 3 and 4,in which 6 represents a shoulder formed on the end of the supporting-barE and at right angles to the length of said bar.

1-1 is a casting sleeved on the main axle. On this castingl-I, extendingforwardly and obliquely in a direction corresponding with that of thesupporting-bars E, are the verticallydisposed parallel flanges h and h,forming the slot 72?. In this slot fit the upturned ends of the saidsupporting-bars. The upturned ends of the said supportin g-bars conformon their rear or engaging edges to the arc of a circle the center ofwhichlies in a line coincident with the line traversing the points ofattachment of the said graii'i-receiving platform to the tierodsT, whichextend to and connect with the main axle of the machine. On the outsideof the flange h is a shoulder h provided with an aperture somewhatlarger than the long threaded bolt 6 which passes therethrough andextends upwardly and engages an aperture in the laterally-projectingshoulder e of the supporting-bars E.

II is a collar secured to the main axle C adjacent to the inner end ofthe casting H, and integral with this collar H is the lug 71 to which issecured. the brace (Z, which extends to and connects with thetongue-pipe D.

Since the supporting-rods F are secured to the grain-receiving platformrearward of its center of gravity, the tendency of the rear end of thebars IE will be to move upward. The

hand-wheel e on the bolt e prevents this upward movement and enables theplatform to be leveled when tilted to the desired height.

WVhen the platform is tilted up or down with the adjusting-leverhereinafter described, its axis of movement will be the main axle of themachine; but when the rear end thereof is raised or lowered by means ofthe leveling device the axis of movement willbe on the line ofattachment of said platform to the tie-rods T, extending to the mainaxle, as previously described. This line of attachment is designated bythe letter 00 in Fig. 12 and by the line w x in Fig. 2. Theoreticallythe point of attachment of the supporting-rods F to the supporting-barsE (represented by the letter 'y in Fig. 12 and by the line 3 y in Fig.2) should be on a line coincident with the said axis of movement 00 0cof the platform E. The theoretical location has been slightly departedfrom in manufacturing, as shown in Fig. 12, but to such a slight extent,however, as to avoid adversely affecting the proper movement of thevarious parts. The lug it serves to hold in position the bolt 6 and thehand-wheel c thereon. This lug h is formed integral with a collar whichsleeves on the main axle 0 adjacent to said casting H, the said lugprojecting longitudinally from the face of the collar and the collaritself being secured to the main axle by a set-screw or other suitablemeans when the said lugh is brought to its position beneath the bolt eas shown in, Fig. 4.

The supporting-rods F are secured at their upper ends to the struts G,and these struts are received by sockets in the casting H. The upperends of these struts and the supporting-rods F in connection therewithare controlled by the branches ii of the pull-rod I. To the rear end ofthis pull-rod is secured the clevis 2", which engages with thespring-yoke K. This spring-yoke is pivotally secured to the casting is,which in turn is secured to the tongue-pipe D. To counteract the stressin the pull-rod I, springs L are interposed be tween the free end of theyoke and a fixed part of the frame, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7. Theattachment of the clevis t" to the yoke K is accomplished by means oftwo hooks 7t and k integral with and on the free end of the said yoke,the hooks 7c and 76 being at different distances from the fulcrum of theyoke. The springs L operate through the yoke K, the pull-rod I and itsbranches 2', the struts G, and the supporting-rods F to counterbalancethe grain-receiving platform. The tension of said springs may beadjusted to suit the weight of said platform by thethreaded boltsl,which screw in a plug in the end of the springs. In order to readilycontrol and adjust the plat form in its various positions, a lever isful-' crumed on the tongue-pipe D and by preference connected to thepull-rod I. It is not essential to the successful application of thisinvention, however, that the platf0rm-adjusting lever operate upon theplatform through the counterbalancing-spring and pull-rod, for

the same result would be obtained should the operation of the adjusting-lever and counterbalancing, device act independent of each other.This lever c mprises a standard M, pivotallymounted on the said tongue-pipe and provided with a series of apertures m near the upper endthereof. This standard is engaged by a clevis 2' which is secured to thepull-rod I. This clevis t is also provided with an aperture, which canbe brought to register with any one of the series of holes m. At aposition near the pivotal point and also at a position near the free endof said standard M are secured the arms J andj, respectively. These armsextend rearwardly and converge, the ends being secured by a boltj, thusforming a rigid triangle. A series of apertures is provided in the arm Jfor the boltj, as shown in Fig.9. To sustain the arm J and its connectedparts in any fixed position, a thumb-latch O is provided, which pivotson the bracket 0, which in turn is secured to said arm J, as shown inFigs.8 and 9. This bracket 0 loosely guides an arm P, preferably ofangle-iron, the lower end of which is pivotally secured to thetongue-pipe D. The thumb-latch O is spring-held in contact with the saidarm P, and a projection 0 thereon engages one of a series of holes 19which is provided in said arm, the said holes being indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 8.

The pullrod I is provided with a turnbuckle 7: for adjusting the lengthof said rod.

K is an arm pivoted, preferably, to lugs integral with the castingforming the operators stand, its free end adapted to engage thespring-yoke K and prevent said yoke from yielding to the retractiveforce of the spring L when the opposing force exerted by the pull-rod Iis withdrawn. M is a similar arm operating to lock the standard Magainst forward movement caused by the weight of the grain-receivingplatform acting through the rods F and 2'. The function and operation ofthese lock-arms K and M and the triangular lever already described willbe more fully set forth in the description of their manipulation, whichis as follows: The operator having determined at what height he desiresto cut the grain, he tilts the platform by means of the adjusting-leverto that position, the center of movement of said platform in thisadjustment being about the main axle C. If found necessary, the platformis then leveled by the hand-wheel e and its coacting parts, with thecenter of movement being about the line was, traversing the point ofattachment of the platform to the tierods, as already described. Thefirst-mentioned adjustment of the platform may have brought the arm J ofthe adjusting-lever to occupy a position in which its range of movementfrom the. normal is not within convenient reach of the operator, asindicated in full lines in Fig. 1, or if for any other reason it isfound desirable to change the range of movement of said lever the bolt jis removed and the arm J lowered the required amount, or to the positionindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the bolt j is again insertedin the arm j and in the particular hole of the series which registerstherewith. By changing the range of movement of a lever is to beunderstood to mean the changing from the position the lever ordinarilyoccupies when the mechanism it controls is in its normal workingposition to a position of the lever removed from its original position,the location of the parts controlled by said lever be unaffected by thischange. By changing the scope of movement of a lever or its affectedparts is to be understood to mean an increase or decrease of thelatitude of movement of that part. It is evident that a variation in therange of movement of the adjusting-lever could be obtained should theclevis i be made longer and provided with a series of holes i, as shownin Figs. 10 and 11, the said holes adapted to engage any one of theseries of holes in the standard M. In this modified form of the clevisthe change in the range of the lever would be accomplished bywithdrawing the pin securing said clevis to the standard M, moving thesaid lever to the desired position, and again connecting the clevis andstandard. If it is desired to increase the scope or extent of movementof the platform without a corresponding increase in the movement of theadj Listing-lever, the clevis i is connected by its pin to one of theseries of holes m farther from the fulcrum of the standard M, and,conversely, if it is desired to increase the effective pull of the leverwith a corresponding decrease in the scope or extent of movement of theadjusted platform the clevis 2' is secured nearer the fulcrum of thestandard, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Wherever the clevis 1'may be located relative to the fulcrum-point of said standard M thelifting or counterpoising effect of the spring L will remainsubstantially the same. If it is desired to increase the reactionaryforce of the spring L, it is accomplished by moving the clevis i nearerthe pivotal point of the spring yoke K, or from the hook it to the hookas shown in Fig. 7 To accomplish this the lockarm K is swung in positionto intercept the rearward movement of the spring-yoke K, as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. l, and the lock-arm M is swung in position toprevent further movement of the standard lWI, also indicated by dottedlines in the same figure. With the yoke K and the standard M thus lockedthe turnbuckle i may be turned to extend the pull-rod I and enable theclevis i to be placed from the upper to the lower hook on the yoke K, orvice versa. The turnbuckle is then rotated in a direction to contractthe pull-rod I and remove the stress from the lock-arms K and M, whichare then thrown back to a non-engaging position.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a grain-harvesting machine, a supporting-axle forming an axis ofmovement for the grain-receiving platform when vertical adjustmentthereof is made, a main frame mounted upon said supporting-axle, a grainreceiving platform, the rear end thereof being supported by and havingvertically-ad just-able connection with the said main supporting-axle,means interposed between a fixed portion of the said main frame and thegrain-receiving platform for supporting the forward end thereof, thesaid supporting means pivotally connecting'with said platform, the saidpivotal connection constituting an axis of movement for the platformwhen the leveling thereof is effected, means adjacent to said main axlefor effecting such leveling, and a device for effecting the verticaladjustment of said platform about the main axle, all combinedsubstantially as described.

2. In a grain-harvesting machine, a main supporting-axle forming an axisof movement when vertical adjustment of the platform is made, a mainframe mounted thereon, platform-supportin g bars pivo tally connected tosaid main axle and verticallyadjustable relative thereto, agrain-receiving platform rigidly secured to said supporting-bars,supporting-rods extending from the main frame to the supporting-barswith which they form a pivotal connection at a point intermediate of thelength of the latter, the said pivotal connection constituting an axisof movement for said platform when adjustment thereof for leveling ismade, and means for effecting the adjustment of the said grain-receivingplatform on both of its axes of movement, all combined substantially asdescribed.

3. In a grain-harvesting machine, a main frame, a main supporting-axle,platform-supporting bars having their rear ends upwardly inclined,supporting-rods extending from said supporting-bars to the frame of saidmachine, a grain-receiving platform rigidly mounted upon saidsupporting-bars, thus being in effect as one piece therewith, and havingtwo pivotal axes of support, means 111- terposed between therearwardly-upturned ends of said supporting-bars and the supporting-axlefor leveling the grain-receivin g platform, a spring and pull-rod forcounterbalanoing said platform, and a platform-adjusting lever variablein its range of movement and adjustably connected to saidsupportingrods, all combined substantially as described.

4. In a grain-harvesting machine, a main frame, a supporting-axle,supportingbars, a grain receiving platform rigidly mounted upon saidsupporting-bars, and thus formed as one piece therewith, and having twopivotal axes of support, said pivotal axes constituting centers ofmovement of said platform when adjustment thereof is effected, meansinterposed between said supporting-bars and supporting-axle for levelingthe grainreceivin g platform, a spring and pull-rod for counterbalanoing said platform, and a platformadjusting lever, variable inits range of movement, operating in conjunction with said pull-rod andreleasably and adj ustably connected therewith, all combinedsubstantially as described. I

5. In a grain-harvesting machine, a supporting-axle, a main framemounted thereon, a grain-receiving platform having a pivotal axis ofsupport coincident with the supporting-axle of the main frame andanother pivotal axis of support located forwardly therefrom, acounter-balancing-spring and pullrod, a platform-adjusting leverfulcrumed on the said main frame and comprising a vertical memberpivotally connected to the main frame and releasably and adjustablyconnected to said pull-rod, and two rearwardly-- extending convergingmembers connected at their free ends, thereby adapting said lever tomove withinapa'th of predetermined limits Whatever variation may berequired in the height of said grain-receiving platform, and meansadjacent to said supportingaxle for leveling said platform, all combinedsubstantially as described.

6. I11 a grain-harvesting machine, a main frame, a grain-receivingplatform having two pivotal axes of support upon said main frame, aspring and pull-rod for sustaining and counterbalancing said platform,pivoted members to Which said pull-rod is connected, means for adjustingthe effective pull of said spring upon said pull-rod, and means forlocking against movement the members supporting the pull-rod when saidadjustment is made, all combined substantially as described.

-7. In a grain-harvesting machine, in combination a main frame, agrain-receiving platform, supporting-bars thereunder, saidsupporting-bars having the rear ends thereof upwardly inclined, meansfor pivotally adjusting the upwardly-inclined ends of said bars to theaxle of the main frame, said means comprising castings sleeved upon saidaxle, parallel vertically-disposed flanges integral with said casting,said flanges forming slots adapted to receive the upwardly-inclined endsof said supporting-bars, a threaded bolt sustained by said casting, saidbolt engaging a laterally-projecting lug upon said upwardlyinclined endsof the supporting-bars, and a hand Wheel on said bolt for controllingthe vertical position of the rear ends of the said supp0rting-bars, andspring-held supporting and adjusting rods interposed between saidgrain-receiving platform and a fixed portion of the main frame,substantially as described.

JOHN F. APPLEBY. In presence of J. O. WARNEs, '1. II. ALFREDS.

